forged from gold

       “are you trying to get me killed, stefano?” she teases, lips beginning to lift into a teasing grin, “you and i both know holy water would burn the likes of us. i don’t think we’ll ever be deemed good by the big man above - no amount of holy water can wash away those type of sins.”

        “kingsley, i think your nose is so upturned it’s beginning to affect your senses.” she shoots back, her gaze flickering over to his dark gaze; azure orbs meeting the color of whisky on ice  “it’s water.” she says again, her tone only bordering on defensive, “nose. touch. sight. - let’s hope the final two of your basic senses haven’t been damaged. maybe it’s a side effect to being wrapped so tightly around emmeline for all these years.”  her tone is impassive, her eyes rolling at his comment before turning her eyes back to the bonfire, ignoring his request - he could walk around.  “you really don’t think people can change?” the question had slipped out before she could stop herself, not sure if he had even really heard it. 

        paige’s eyes mirrored sulli’s as she looked down at herself, the sheer fabric already teasing the lace delicate underneath and leaving very little to the imagination; and for a moment - she hesitated, because she knew the paige that nearly everyone in augusta still associated her with wouldn’t have even batted an eye before stripping off her clothes and joining sullivan. but did she really have a choice? sullivan’s suggestion sounded much more tempting than waiting for her top to dry. her fingers are moving before her lips, unbuttoning the thin fabric and throwing it onto a nearby chair, leaving her in a black lace bra courtesy of la perla. “party in the woods - you sure aiden isn’t behind this madness?” she teases with a small laugh, holding onto sulli’s hand as the pair weaves themselves to the makeshift dance floor. 

        she looses out a laugh and she can almost feel herself relax under his arm; finally - a familiar face that she was happy to see. a grin breaks out onto her lips, an infectious one that brightens and lifts the girl’s features as she spots the flask in his hand. “i still can’t believe you kept this,” she reaches out to take it from him, the silver flask that had gotten her through the countless events in the past, filled to the brim with whatever liquor the girl could get her hands on  “modern day, prince charming, huh meadows?” she teases with a small shake of her head, “i actually don’t need it tonight. think they might be drunk enough for all of us,” her eyes flicker to a particularly rowdy group before swinging her attention back to aiden, “i’m taking a page out of the aiden meadow’s handbook and staying sober tonight.” the words sound foreign coming from the girl, and one she’s sure comes to a surprise to most - paige levinsky and at the very least a glass of bubbly champagne often went hand-in-hand. “besides, what if i take off tomorrow. how ever will you remember me? the flask is much more sentimental than a louboutin.” her tone drizzles with mirth as she dangles the flask in her fingers. 

         she stands in front of the bonfire, blue orbs entranced, looking otherworldly as golden features are illuminated by the soft flicker of the flames that dance into the night sky. she feels herself jut forward as someone bumps into her from behind, causing her drink to spill onto her hand, wetting the sheer fabric of her white top. she shakes the hand lightly, letting out a small laugh as she shakes her head and throws herself back into the reality of where she is. “good thing it wasn't the jesus juice i had in there” she murmurs, anything that had even the slightest hue of colour would have stained her top. “---water.” she adds in as an after-thought, feeling the need to clarify. 

         the door to the purple turtle swings open, the sun that illuminates her golden features chase her inside, showing its mark on the floor before its swept away as the door swings shut, leaving the girl alone and taking her shadow with it. the nostalgia floods her system as her gaze flits around the room, memories playing like a montage in her brain - she’d never been old enough to be in here, in fact - she was still one year shy, but that had never stopped her before. she makes her way to the bar, taking a seat on a stool. she waits for a particular blonde boy to notice her, her lips tilt into an infectious grin as their eyes meet. she’s silent for a moment before her hand is digging into her small purse, pulling out her fake id - alex weston from nebraska. “one more year and i can finally actually be paige levinsky in here.” she teases, as she slides him her id - knowing full well he’s never cared to card her. “like what you’ve done with the place, aiden. new flooring? rest in peace to that legendary spot my tinder date projectile vomited that one time.” her words swim out of her lips, keeping her tone casual - as if they hadn’t been absent from each other’s lives for three years. she was beginning to make her rounds around town like a game of russian roulette, the ball spinning and bouncing between black or red, black or red - except in paige's case it was happy or pissed, happy or pissed.    @aidenmeadows

        a lot could change in the span of three years. paige levinsky certainly had and as she weaved her way through augusta, it seemed the town had truly crafted a background worthy of a reality show. the soundtrack of the city moving faster than she had remembered. her long legs walked a pace slower than usual, trying to direct her feet in the way the tiny blue dots on her phone directed her to, brows knitting together as she attempted to google map her way to her destination; - augusta somehow felt so familiar and foreign all at the same time. she felt herself snap backwards, her blonde locks swinging over her face as the bikers sped past them, “yeah, i’m fine” the response is second nature - an automatic response to the question; just like the bright smile that finds residence on her lips, bringing life and promise to her words, making them believable. she pushes her tresses out of her face, turning to look at the girl, “thanks. you just saved me from a trip to the hospital. - at least it wasn’t a car, i guess” she lifts a slender shoulder in a shrug.